Taking one last shot at how the Patriots' roster will shape up

With the team currently at 75 players, projecting how things will unfold following Saturday's final cuts to 53.

Glen Farley The Enterprise @GFarley_ent

One last shot at who will be the Patriots’ chosen 53 when the season opens

Well, this one required an audible. I think I speak for everyone when I say that Tuesday’s release of wide receiver Wilson Van Hooser caught us all off guard.

But seriously, folks, the deal that sent six-time Pro Bowl left guard Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay on Tuesday was nothing short of shocking.

In the wake of that and with the preseason finale against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium now just hours away, here’s my fourth and final projection at how the Patriots’ 53-man – actually, 55-man – roster will look after the final cuts, which must be made by 6 p.m. Saturday:

Quarterbacks (2) – Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo

If coach Bill Belichick can get anything of substance in return for Ryan Mallett, I’m sure going to wish he’d offered to go along with me last month when I was shopping for a new car and offering a 2004 Honda Civic with 160,000 miles on the odometer and a shabby interior as a trade-in.

Yes, this number looks inflated, but Slater, the three-time Pro Bowl special teamer, is a wide receiver in name only and Tyms (like teammate Brandon Browner, he must serve a four-game, league-imposed suspension) is a spectator until October.

The fact that the number does not include Josh Boyce is an indictment of the total lack of progress the 2013 fourth-round draft pick has made during his time in New England.

Tight ends (3) – Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui, Tim Wright

It was steep, but given their plight at tight end the Patriots felt the price was (W)right.

Tommy Kelly’s loss may be Worley’s gain; acquired earlier this month in a trade with Green Bay, Worthy immediately thrust himself into the picture with his debut against the Carolina Panthers last Friday night.